text_original: It was fortunate for the Empire that le decreasing power of the Caliphs and the confusion f Western Europe insured immunity from external 144 THE DAWN OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE attack and even enabled the Imperial frontiers to be ex  tended in Southern Italy and in the East.
text_transcription: IT WAS FORTUNATE FOR THE EMPIRE THAT THE DECREASING POWER OF THE CALIPHS AND THE CONFUSION OF WESTERN EUROPE INSURED AMITY FROM EXTERNAL ATTACK AND EVEN ENABLED THE IMPERIAL FRONTIERS TO BE EXTENDED IN SOUTHERN ITALY AND IN THE EAST
phonemes: ɪt wʌz fˈɔːɹtʃənət fɚðɪ ˈɛmpaɪɚ ðæt lə dˈiːkɹiːsɪŋ pˈaʊɚɹ ʌvðə kˈeɪlɪfz ænd ðə kənfjˈuːʒən ˈɛf wˈɛstɚn jˈʊɹɹəp ɪnʃˈʊɹd ɪmjˈuːnᵻɾi fɹʌm ɛkstˈɜːnəl wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɔːɹɾi fˈɔːɹ ðə dˈɔːn ʌv mˈɛdɪˌiːvəl jˈʊɹɹəp ɐtˈæk ænd ˈiːvən ɛnˈeɪbəld ðɪ ɪmpˈɪɹiəl fɹʌntˈɪɹz təbi ˈɛks tˈɛndᵻd ɪn sˈʌðɚn ˈɪɾəli ænd ɪnðɪ ˈiːst.